Flow divider



Patented pr. 25, 1933 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE WILLIAI F. MOORE, OFFL'USHING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE TEXAS 00mm OF NEW YORK, N". Y., ACORPORATION OF DEIAW'ARE- FLOW DIVIDER pplication filed March 18, 1932.Serial No. 599,648.

This invention relates to a device for dividing a flowing streamof'fluid and more particularly to a mechanism which is adapted to dividea stream of fluid into two streams of equal volume and to maintain thevolume of these streams constant.

In the case of those fittings and arrangements Which have been used upto the present time for attempting to divide a stream into two' streamsof equal volume and which usually eomprise a Y pipe fitting and valvesfor regulating the volumes of the streams, great diiiieulty has beenexperienced in attaining the desired result. Slight differences in theCharacteristics of the internal- Structures of the Y fitting and thevalves always result in Wide Variations of the vol-- umes of the tworesultant streams. i By means of my invention, I am enabled toaccurately divide a given stream of fluid into two streams vof equalvolume and to maintain these volumes constant at all times Withoutrecourse to the use of any valves or similar control fittings.

In accordance with my invention, I interpose in the stream of fluid acasing within which is ivoted a wedge-Shaped vane Which is limited inthe extent of its rotation and is adapted to divide the fluid into twoequal streams; For a better understanding of my invention, referencemaybe had to the following description and accompanying drawing whichillustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention in Which Fig. 1 is ahorizontal seetional view;

F ig. 2 is a vertical sectional view;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a spring andv stop assemblyused for limiting the movement of the movable member of the mechanism;and l Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing the numeral 10 designates a casingsubstanti'allytriangular-shaped in cross section and having a fluid conductor 11entering it at the apex Which is the inlet end of the structure. Twoeonductors 12 and 13 enter the casing at the opposite base vertices,these conduetors serving as outlets for the fluid entering at 11.

A wedge-Shaped, vane-like member 14 is supported on a pivot 9 within thecasing 10 in such a manner that its center line normally coincides withthe center line of the casing. The base 15 of the vane-like 'member isadjacent to the base 16 of the triangular-Shaped easing, while theleading edge 17 points directly toward the apex of the casing. As aresult of this alloeation of the members, the fluid passages in thecasing conform substantially to a Y shape, the leg 18 of Which coincideswith the inlet portion of the casing while the arms 19 and 20 constitutethe diverging fluid passages leading to'the Outlet conductors.

The after portion 21 of the vane-like member is symmetrically hollow sothat the center of mass 22 of the structure is on the center line and,in the forward portion of the vane. As a direct resultl of this, thedensity of the head or leading portion is considerably greater than thedensity of the after, or tail portion. The base of the vane is curvedand eonforms to the are of a circle having a radius equal to thedistance between the center of mass or pivotal point and either of thevertices of the base angles of the vane. The surface of thev casingagainst which the vane abuts "is likewise curved and acts as a'bearingsurface. I

The side walls of the vane are extended beyond the curved lbase of thevane-like member resulting in projections 23 and 24. The base ofv thecasing is recessed to .receive these projections and to allow aflimitedrotation of the pivoted member. I Resilient means, 25 and 26, eooperatelwith projections 24 and 25 to normally' maintain the 'i stud bolts 28are provided to maintain this plate in close contact with the casing.Both the cover plate and the bottom plate of the casing are providedwith recessed bearings 29 and 30 to cooperate with the pivot 9 of thevane-like member and are so designed as to allow free rotation of thismember. Since the pivot 9 coincides with the center of mass 22, the vanemember will normally be balanced and will swing freely except as limitedby the projections 23 and 24 and the resilient means 25 and 26.

The operation of the flow divider is most easily understood by aconsideration of its .action under conditions of both straight line flowand turbulent flow. Considering a fluid entering the mechanism throughthe conductor 11 travelling with a Velocity less than its criticalVelocity, the cross section of such a fluid contains no points havingvelocities higher or lower than the average Velocity. The vane, beingositioned in its normally central position, ivides the oncoming fluidinto two equal streams which follow the channels 19 and 20. The kineticenergies of each of the divided streams are equal and the clockwisemoment acting on one side of the after portion of the vane equals thecounter-clockwise moment acting on the other side of the after portionof the vane. Therefore, there cannot be a resultant torque and thevane'remains in its normally central position.

If there is a condition of turbulent flow in the incomzing fluid, thecross section of the fluid contains eddy currents 'or localized streamshaving velocities higher or lower than the average Velocity. Consideringthe vane positioned in a normally central position, the kinetic energiesof the divided streams are unequal. The moments acting on each side ofthe after portion of the vane are unequal and there is a resultanttorque causing rotation of the vane. Referring to Fig. 1, it will beseen that if the vane is caused to swing out of its normally centralposition in a clockwise direction, the channel 19 is constricted b theknife edge 17, and a larger volume o fluid passes through channel 20. Asa result, the Velocity of the fluid adjacent to the after portion of thevane on the 20 side is increased which then produces a counter-clockwisemoment greater than that tending to cause clockwise rotation, and thevane returns to its normally central position.

In order to limit the extent of rotation of the vane, the projections 23and 24 have been provided. Cooperating with these projections areresilient means 25 and 26, for decreasing the sensitivity of themechanism and for damping or preventing the rapid vibrations orflutterings of the vane that might be caused by slight eddy currentsnormally present in any flowing body of fluid.

The fluid divider, as described, may be efiiciently applied in all caseswhere it is desirable to divide a fiowing body of fluid into two streamsof equal volumes. For example, it may be applied to container fillingmechanisms, to the charging of oil to duplicate cracking units with onecharge pump, to the supplying oflriquid or gaseous fuel to duplicateburners, and the like. By changing the materials used in constructingthe mechanism, it may be adapted for the handling of all types offluids, both gaseous and liquid. It is apparent that several flowdividers similar to the one I have described may be used in series. Forexample, by connecting the respective inlet conductors of two flowdividers to the fluid eductors 12 and 13 of the flow divider shown inFig. 1, it is possible to divide a stream of fluid into four equalstreams.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention, ashereinbefore set forth, may be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposedas are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for dividing a stream of fluid into two equal streamscomprising a casing interposed in the stream of fluid, a wedgeshapedvane pivoted centrally in the casing,

limited in the extent of its rotation and adapted to divide equallythekflow of fluid through the casing.

2. A device for dividing a stream of fluid into two equal streamscomprising a casing interposed in the stream of fluid, a wedge- Shapedvane pivoted centrally in the casing and adapted to equally divide theflow of' fluid through the casing and resilient means cooperating withthe vane and adapted to limit the extent of its rotation and to returnthe same to its normal position.

3. A device for dividing a stream of fluid into two equal streamscomprising a casing provided with a fluid inlet and a plurality of fluidoutlets, a wedge-Shaped vane centrally pivoted in the casing and adaptedto equally divide the flow of fluid through the casing, stops andresilient means cooperating with the vane and adapted to coact with itand to limit the extent of its rotation.

4. A device for dividing the flow of a fluid into two equal streamswhich comprises. a casing triangular Shaped in cross section having afluid conductor entering it at its apex and two fluid eduetors parallelto the fluid conductor leaving the casing at opposite ends of its base,a wedge-Shaped vane pvoted Within the casing, and centrally positonedtheren so that the fluid passages formed thereby conform substantiallyto a Y shape, and projections and resilient means operatively attachedto the vane to limit the extent of its rotation.

In witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of March,1932.

WILLIAM F. MOORE.

